Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
ततो भास्करवर्णाभमञ्जोगतिमयस्मयम् । ससर्ज तोमरं भीम: प्रत्यमित्राय यत्नवान्
tato bhāskaravarṇābham añjogatimaya-smayam | sasarja tomaraṃ bhīmaḥ pratyamitrāya yatnavān ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Entonces Bhīma, esforzándose al máximo, arrojó contra su adversario un tomara (jabalina) de hierro, radiante como el sol y que voló recto con velocidad rápida e infalible. La escena subraya la áspera ética del deber en la guerra, donde la determinación y la destreza se ponen al servicio de la victoria en medio de un choque letal.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the warrior ethic (kṣatriya-dharma): in a righteous war, a fighter must act with focused effort and skill, even when the action is violent. It frames resolve and disciplined execution as central battlefield virtues.
Sañjaya narrates that Bhīma hurls a sun-bright, straight-flying iron tomara at his enemy, emphasizing the weapon’s radiance and direct, forceful trajectory.